I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 22

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 22

At first, she wanted to storm out of the entertainment agency. They had promised to focus on runway activities, but their intention to shift her toward acting was obvious.

Being thrown into this childish web drama as a test case seemed like they were trying to completely ruin her modeling career.

“Thank you.”

However, filming the web drama unexpectedly opened up a new world for Ju Junseo. Even though it wasn’t a runway, it made him feel like he was walking on stage. Han Yeoreum’s gaze, her voice, looking at him…

“Everyone! Ice cream is here!”

But perhaps his voice was too quiet. Han Yeoreum didn’t seem to hear him and burst through the door, rushing inside.

Left alone outside, Ju Junseo opened the door again and walked toward Yeoreum, who was gesturing to him. As soon as he entered, the staff swarmed him like a pack of dogs and snatched away the ice cream bag.

“Ah!!! My Melona!!!”

“I’m old, so I need to eat something soft!”

“Chocolate flavor! The chocolate one is mine!”

It was absurd. So Ju Junseo laughed. It was natural laughter, not acting. Jjang Director watched the two of them with deep interest.

* * *

Inside the JC ENM Center building located in Mapo-gu, the preview for 〈Parfait Cherry〉 was playing in the General Programming Room.

-Ah, should I just drop out…

On the monitor, Yeoreum with dead fish eyes was flowing across the screen. Then Gaeul appeared with sparkling effects. It was a dazzlingly colorful scene.

-Humans can never live alone!

-Friends… it’s just about reaching out to each other.

-Hey, want to join a club activity together?

Then a tablet pen moved over Gaeul.

Scratch scratch-.

Along with the sound of drawing manga, Gaeul’s appearance was replaced by a scene from within the comic. Sound effects like soap bubbles popping were mixed between the edited video that combined actual footage and drawings.

Subtitle: I’ve entered into a romance manga.

-What kind of school uniform is this.

-What kind of class time is this.

-What kind of… storage room door!

Yeoreum sighing at the ridiculous school uniform design, Yeoreum taking notes alone among extras who weren’t properly attending class or studying, and Yeoreum calmly pressing the 119 button despite being trapped in the storage room appeared in sequence.

Subtitle: The problem is that.

-Pi Chaewon! Answer if you can hear me!

-…

-Pi Chaewon!

-Hello. Is this 119? I’m currently trapped in a school building, ah. The faculty office phone. That method.

Then someone’s desperate voice could be heard from outside, accompanied by the same soap bubble popping sound effects. But Yeoreum didn’t ask for help from the person outside the door and instead talked with the firefighters.

Subtitle: That I’m not the heroine.

Then scenes of the school that Jjang Director had carefully filmed appeared. They were truly beautiful scenes worthy of being called a ‘school drama.’ Club recruitment flyers that seemed completely detached from reality fluttered down as if pouring from the sky.

-Club activities that I have to do for 3 years~ I’m really worried about it. Hmph.

Then Yeoreum appeared, somehow transformed. Yeoreum, dressed similarly to the romance manga heroine Hina, had changed from dead fish eyes to lively eyes.

Subtitle: I became an extra who will disappear unless I gain presence!

Yeoreum had already steeled herself to become a sunshine-like protagonist. She had completely changed from her indifferent and lethargic appearance. Yeoreum ran with bread in her mouth.

Subtitle: Can an extra become the protagonist?

Then heart CG effects appeared in every scene of Yeoreum trying hard.

Subtitle: Parfait Cherry is for the Heroine

The title written in cute font appeared, followed by Yeoreum’s voice heard once more quietly.

-…I can’t do this anymore.

Then the scene of Ju Junseo and Han Yeoreum alone together on the rooftop appeared again. Above it was written the premiere date.

Jjang Director felt a thrill run through his entire body. The preview had turned out well.

“Of course, the actual video is much more interesting!”

He was already looking forward to the reaction of subscribers who would watch the final episode. Jjang Director sent the video stored on the hard drive to JC ENM’s PR team. Now it was time to fan the flames of anticipation along with press releases.

Buzz- Buzz-.

Not long after delivering the preview, Jjang Director’s phone rang. It was a call from Manager Hong of JC ENM’s PR team.

“Oh, Manager Hong! You saw what I sent, right?”

-…I saw it.

“Why? Why does your voice sound like that?”

Manager Hong’s voice sounded strange somehow.

-Well…

“Come on, tell me quickly! Why. What is it.”

-At the rough cut screening…

When video editing is somewhat completed, the director, PD, and writer all gather for a screening. It’s to improve the quality of the editing. Jjang Director naturally thought Manager Hong was dragging out his words because he wanted to visit during the rough cut screening.

“Oh, you can come. It’s interesting, right? Right?”

-That, Jegal Rok…

Upon hearing the name Jegal Rok, Jjang Director’s heart began pounding. Even though the entertainment and broadcasting industries were full of crazy people, JC ENM’s division head Jegal Rok was at the top of the food chain among crazy people.

-He said… he would attend.

Jjang Director’s mouth fell wide open.

Jegal Rok, he had only heard the name Jegal Rok, but he never expected that Jegal Rok would personally grace his work with his presence.

“What??!!!”

Coming in person rather than simply receiving and reviewing a video file meant more than expected. Jjang Director couldn’t even remember how he hung up the phone.

Jegal Rok paying this much attention was equivalent to saying he would properly support the project. Jegal Rok and Han Yeoreum alternately came to mind in Jjang Director’s head. And even the words the Lighting Director had said flashed by.

“That kid… is going to go to a really good place.”

Jjang Director clicked on the preview once more. He looked at the rookie actor filling the screen, Han Yeoreum.

“I… more than I thought…”

Web dramas had a strong perception of being small-scale, childish, snack culture that just ‘killed time’ in markets like Intube and SNS.

“Found a better actor.”

He had a strong premonition that the landscape of that web drama was about to change. And at that moment, Manager Hong, who instinctively assessed the situation just like Jjang Director, distributed press releases with much more care than usual.

[The Cherry on Top of the Parfait Belongs to the Heroine! JC ENM’s First Web Drama]

[From Webtoon to Drama? Will the ‘Web Drama’ Era Begin Now?]

[This is Real K-High School Students. Model Ju Junseo’s First Leading Role in 〈Pachehi〉]

It was one week before the trailer would be uploaded.

* * *

Tension filled the General Programming Room.

“Do I look okay today?”

“I’ve told you several times that you look fine! Please look at me instead. Does the lint on my clothes show too much?”

It was because of Jegal Rok’s visit. Unless it was a major program, a big shot of that caliber wouldn’t usually set foot in a rough cut screening. Maybe if they were just receiving files, but not this.

Jjang Director swallowed his dry saliva. Sixty seconds before the appointment time. He gave himself one last pep talk.

‘You did well. You did well! You did well enough…’

It was the most nerve-wracking moment of his directing career. Jjang Director recalled the excellently produced Episode 1. It was an entertaining piece of work. There wasn’t a single loose segment, and no choppy parts either. And above all, the protagonist Han Yeoreum’s—

Step—. Step—.

The steady sound of dress shoes could be heard from the far end of the hallway. Perfectly regular footsteps. It was Jegal Rok.

“Good morning!!!”

Everyone bowed their heads in greeting as Jegal Rok opened the door and entered the General Programming Room. Shining dress shoes, sharply pressed pants, a neat coat. Even at a glance, anyone could tell this wasn’t an ordinary person. With dark circles under his eyes, Jegal Rok crossed his arms, sat down, and said,

“Please play it.”

Gulp.

Along with someone’s audible swallow, Episode 1 of 〈Pachehi〉 began playing.

* * *

Jegal Rok. He could be described in just one line.

No other modifiers were necessary. Born and raised in a broadcasting family, Jegal Rok had a different eye from the start, and his instincts themselves were part of the mass media institution.

Simply put, when Jegal Rok frowned, that work was scrapped, and when Jegal Rok tilted his head once, that work became the main project for the quarter.

The fact that he could reach executive level at a relatively young age was purely due to his abilities. This was a project that such a Jegal Rok had ordered, and this was one of the few rough cut screenings that such a Jegal Rok attended in person.

“….”

After Episode 1 of 〈Pachehi〉 ended, Jegal Rok didn’t say anything for a while. He didn’t frown, nor did he tilt his head. He simply remained with his arms crossed.

The silence continued for quite some time. After remaining silent throughout, he finally opened his mouth.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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